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Several people have asked me why I decided to go gluten-free. Here is my story.
Last Christmas, December 2019, I was having trouble with fatigue, foggy brain, headaches, constipation, and diarrhea. I was tired constantly, and each time I mentioned it to the doctor, he\’d say, \”Let\’s check the thyroid.\” My thyroid was always good because I take thyroid medicine. I do realize the thyroid can change with time, but mine never did.
I was always having trouble with my thoughts. I could not think clearly. It seemed my mind was in a daze. I thought I might be starting dementia. I\’ve learned since then that gluten can cause dementia. My mother had dementia, and I know I do not want it.
The back and forth between constipation and diarrhea wore me out. I\’m sure that caused some of my fatigue. I had also had several episodes of severe constipation. It was so intense that I had to go to the emergency room. I was told I had a blocked bowel.
The headaches were similar to migraines. They were horrible. I would have to go to bed, turn off the lights, cover up my head so no light would come in, and sleep. I had one headache for six weeks. That\’s when I started searching on the internet and talking to people I knew were gluten-free. My doctor told me I was dehydrated, which I knew I wasn\’t. I have kidney disease, and I drink between forty and sixty ounces of water a day.
I asked my step-granddaughter about her reason for going off gluten. She had had all the symptoms I had. She even took Botox shots for her migraines. When I found out she was feeling the same as I was, I decided to make a change. I will say that going off gluten has helped me greatly.
This is what I look for when I buy food, no wheat flour or soy. Someone said on a YouTube I watched that the least ingredients, the better. I believe that. If you look at the ingredients of a product, and there are what seems like a million ingredients, some of those you don\’t know what they are. they may be gluten of some sort. Remember, not all plant-based ingredients are the same. If you have a gluten allergy, you want to know what you are eating. You also want the food to be processed in a gluten-free environment.
Watch what you eat. Also, watch what you buy. Be sure it\’s gluten-free before you purchase, or make it yourself.
I’m going to send this to my mom. Thanks, Kathy!
I’m not an expert, but I know how I feel. I do know there is something to how I feel now. It’s worth trying.
I have a gluten sensitivity and have found the same relief with a few of your symptoms. I also take enzymes to help me digest the food I do eat. A diet of with lots of vegies and protein is the best.
I have taken probiotics for over a year, even before I started gluten-free. I do advise anyone who goes gluten-free to take a probiotic or an enzyme. I have taken both. I also suggest veggies, fruits, and protein. I make a protein bite that is delicious, and I also do a peanut butter mug cake in the microwave. It is full of protein. Keeping boiled eggs in the refrigerator is a healthy, protein packed snack. I do them in my instant pot and have them easily accessible. I have had digestive problems most of my life, and I’m wondering if I have had gluten problems since childhood. Thanks for reading and commenting.